During your stay you can learn permaculture practices, sustainable practices, surfing, helping in the organic garden, enjoy local activities (SUP, horse riding, coast walks), or simply enjoy the tranquillity of the Alentejo way of life. They also can offer Portuguese cooking workshops (for a small fee). This camp is being created to invite you to explore another beautiful and more hidden part of Portugal.
Why you’ll love Rapture's permaculture eco surf camp
Their surf camp offers a perfect balance between a relaxed holiday and a new opportunity for you to learn and work on several sustainability practices, especially permaculture. The activities they run on-site are based on environmental concerns, and they aim to pass this type of knowledge to all guests that visit them. The surf camp location also offers amazing views within a short walking distance, and the natural beauty that surrounds the area will make you feel astonished and want to come back every summer!
Surf lessons for beginners and intermediates
No matter if you have stood on a board once or twice before, you plan all your travels around surfing the world, or you want to experience the feeling of riding a wave for the first time, your local surf guides know every break and will take you to the one that suits your level and offers perfect conditions for that day.
The staff will show you how to successfully pop on the board, how to progress from whitewater to green waves, and how to enhance your existing skills, taking you from riding to ripping.
At this surf school, they have a selection of boards that you can hire from their friendly staff. These include twin fins, longboards, and thrusters. With this variety you can surf everything from a ripple to overheard barrels, switching up boards as the conditions change.
Level 1: Beginner Surf Course
The Beginner category is for those who have never surfed before, or who haven’t surfed in a while and want to go through the basics one more time. It is a great fit for all people who are refining their techniques and gaining confidence. They’ll give you a fun introduction to surfing, and share the stoke when you catch your very first waves. They’ll make sure that you develop your skills in line with your level and that you’ll catch as many waves as possible while having fun with the other surfers.
Is the course for complete beginners?
A significant part of Rapture Surf Camp's guests at all camps are complete beginners, that’s why they offer lessons for complete beginners from Mondays to Saturdays as you progress during your time at camp, so does the instruction you receive. Trust them, within your stay you might already be riding green waves with the help of their patient and experienced instructors and you will meet a new surfing family at camp that may stay friends for life.
What will you learn in the Beginner course
Your first surf lesson begins with an instructor teaching you the basics of how to handle a surfboard, paddle out, catch a wave, and get to your feet.
Here are some fundamental steps you will start with at the camp:
- Safety intro and beach awareness
- Surf equipment explained
- Paddling technique
- Catching a wave
- Standing up on your board
- Surfboard control
- How to ride a wave toward the shore
- Improving your stance
- Surf awareness
- Improving your technique
Level 2: Intermediate Surf Course
The main difference between beginner and intermediate surfers is their autonomy in the water. To be suitable for the intermediate group you should be able to get up on waves on your own, have a very strong paddling ability, and be comfortable in the water in general. If this is still a challenge for you, you will benefit more from the beginner course instead.
The instructors will help you to improve your skills, you will learn how to read the water, where to position yourself and how to turn on waves.
What can you expect from the intermediate course?
This module is focused on getting to the outside (lineup) in waist-high waves. They’ll teach you to catch green waves and ride the face of the wave instead of going straight into the white water. Your instructors will identify the important changes you can bring to your technique that will end up making a huge difference in your surfing style!
The surf school for intermediate surfers
You will get personalised tips on how you surf and about what to improve as the quality of the waves you pick, the speed you are able to generate, and your agility on the wave.
The team will teach you how to use rip currents and as well refine your timing while picking up the waves to surf etc. All these factors can truly make a difference in your learning path. The more you train, the better you surf and the more you’ll end up loving it.
Other important things you will learn with us in the Intermediate course:
- Paddling out techniques
- Sitting on your board
- Positioning yourself in the line-up
- Catching a wave toward shore
- Reading the ocean – learning which waves to catch and which waves to rather skip
- Stalling and accelerating
- Going “out the back”
- Improve your stance
- Angled take-offs
- Riding unbroken waves